Thinking of doing Med in Sept but need help

[JENR]

I am in the early stages of planning a Med Cruise in September of this year. It would be my daughter and he husband and myself and 14 year old son. I have cruised with DCL many times but only out of Port Canaveral. Is there somewhere I can get info on flights, hotels, transportation to the from port, shore excursions?????

I am totally clueless.

Thanks
Jen

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am in the early stages of planning a Med Cruise in September of this year. It would be my daughter and he husband and myself and 14 year old son. I have cruised with DCL many times but only out of Port Canaveral. Is there somewhere I can get info on flights, hotels, transportation to the from port, shore excursions?????

I am totally clueless.

Thanks
Jen

Flight info I get by checking Kayak.com. It'll give you a good idea of when/where flights are.

You can get an idea of what sorts of excursions were available in the past (and maybe on future cruises) from the Port Adventures link on the DCL website: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/port-adventures/overview/ Just scroll down to the Northern Europe & Mediterranean section.

 

[jrabbit]

Advise: Get into Barcelona a few days early. It's a great city with lots to experience!!

Flights: I would try to arrive late morning to early afternoon (11am - 3pm). Then get to your hotel, checked in and get outside - and stay up until 10pm if possible, and then you will say - What Jet Lag!!

If you are coming from the West Coast, you will very likely leave late in the afternoon and arrive morning / noonish (depending upon connections). Its a good option if you can get some sleep on the plane.

Returning home (depending upon east coast, mid or west coast) can be problematic as far as times go. Sometimes easier to spend the disembarkation day in Barcelona as well and catch an earlier in the morning flight out.

Other travel sites to check on flights and hotels: Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity. Then there are the hotel only sites.

BTW: the 14yo is a perfect age to be grumpy (very) on the outside, but really enjoy the trip!!

 

[oufpat]

Take a look at the "First Trip to the Med" on the cruise trip reports here, it will give you an idea of what to expect. We are taking this cruise next Sept and this trip report has been very helpful.

 

[cheermom2four]

We are doing the Sept Med cruise!!! Hoping you will do it. Seems like quite a few kids around 14 yrs old on that sailing from what I've read. We've only sailed out of PC also and it was overwhelming at first but finally bought our tickets and booked hotel before and after cruise (arriving 2 days before and staying 1 day after as the tickets were too high for leaving day we get back to Barcelona port). Our two oldest bought their airline tickets with the hotel after the cruise together thru expedia (they always go thru this website and have yet to have an issue) and it was cheaper that way than booking hotel and flights separate. We booked our flights a couple months ago when they were only $700 RT each coming from Colorado (huge savings for us). The hotel before cruise we booked a few months ago since we needed one that slept 6 people which is hard to do. There's always airbnb or VRBO you could check into instead of hotels.

 

[jrabbit]

another tip - for both Pre / Post Cruise and during the cruise

Check out Rick Steves books for the city / countries you will be visiting for ideas about hotels and what you want to see. He also has a cruising book. I find them invaluable references. He has a book dedicated to Barcelona, another one for Rome, and others for Spain or Italy or France.

Note: Rick has a particular style that he calls "Europe though the back door", which really means, trying to experience things as locals vs. tourists. So his slant is NOT to stay in the Hiton's, Marriott's, Raddison's but rather at much smaller (and cooler) hotels.

 

[dclpluto]

Take your 14 year old son to the beach in Barcelona. He will love it.

 

[JENR]

You have all been very helpful. I am almost talking myself out of this bc I am so overwhelmed. I am very adventurous usually as my husband does not like to travel at all. I have taken my boys to colorado and hawaii and many other places on my own but this is making me nervous. I guess just not knowing. I am a total Disney expert but this I am not lol. Is Barcelona safe? Also, any excursion advice with a 14 year old. I don't want to bore him to death on 10 hour tours. Was hoping there would be more "fun" excursions. I did see a hike that looks great for him. I just don't know.

 

[cheermom2four]

Barcelona is as safe as any big city in the US. Just be smart and dont leave purses hanging open and dont lay things down when sitting at a table (i.e. phones etc). What happens in Barcelona can happen in New york, or even Denver (where I'm from) for that matter.

I would sit with him and look at the DCL tours they offer or just research private tours on the web. Most have ratings by people like ourselves that go outside of DCL for tours.

 

[cheermom2four]

Take your 14 year old son to the beach in Barcelona. He will love it.

LOL Had to giggle and why I wont be taking my 16 year old. Not sure he would keep his mouth closed when we visit the beach